Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-02-03
A JAPANESE TEA HOUSE.

One warm morning in July. ! stood
in front of one Of these Japanese tea
houses. about to enter. Situated in one
of the many parks which adorn Toxic,
is rated as the very best and tho swell
cst" in the city. 1t Is patronised by
tho upper crust of Japanese society,
and has theatre attached, where an
ancient Japanese dance can be seen
occasionally.
Tho sliding doors were thrown open.
revealing the reception room. wherein
stood three or four tiny Japanese girls.
their jet black hair moulded into fam
tastic shapes with grease and bandoline,
their eyebrows shaved. their lips paint
cd red. and their dainty little forms
arrayed in dazzling pimonas or loose
flowing robes which failed to conceal
their graceful nccks. These are the
tea.houso girls Of Japan, bewitching.
cunning and dangerously picturcsqucl
II Is these pretty creatures which makes
Japan so attractive TO foreigners.
We started to enter without core-
mony, as one would entora restaurant.
Bet we could not have committed o
greater or moro objectionable sin. My
'ricksha man. grinning from ear TO ear,
pointed TO my hat took u of and
bowed politely, whereupon the young
ladies Uttered and looked at zach other.
Unooncerted, however. started again
to enter but was held back by my
grinning 'rlcksha man, who pointed to
my shoes, and grunted out something
which sounded like No-sh- -ng--moo--
poo. took the hint and took of my
shoes, keeping my feet beneath mo TO
conceal the holes in my hose until a
girl brought mo pair of Japanese
slippers, which you know have no
heels. Did you over try to keep on a
pair Of slippers without anything to
hold your heels IMP Try IL once. Ex-
peditously showed my toes into tho
slippers, and guided by tho shy and
smirkiag females, began my inspection
OF the tea houses.
Tho first thing we saw, rs wo stop
ped upon tho mating OF the small,
empty reception room was row OF
Japanese girls, OF various shades OF
beauty on their knees, bowling their
heads to the floor. We answered tho
salute by bowling, but not on our
knees.
"0hio," good morning), said one OF
tho prottiest girls. advancing.
"Ohio," | boldly responded But
here my knowledge OF Japanese ended
and my embarrassment began. ] could
not speak Japanese and tho young lady
addressing us could not speak English.
but OF course she know what we were
there for, and Immediately began to
conduct us through the several rooms
Of the house.
Simplicity and plalnness are tho fca-
lures Of the interior Of nm ideal Japan-
csc ten house. The rooms ARE low and
finished In natural Imprinted and un-
vanished wood, save here or there n
lacquer wood door frames or panel
On tho floor Is straw mating. but no
table or chairs Of any description. Tho
walls arc usually without pictures or
ornaments, and neither stove nor fire.
place Is seen. In short, the room we
were finally conducted TO was model
Of baroness and simplicity. Some OF
the private ton rooms overhead, how
ever, were finished throughout in lac
quer wood and had lacquer floors,
shining like polished mirrors.
OF course when ono enters tea
house he is expected TO take refresh
ments. Selecting the best OF those un-
inviting rooms overlooking the lawn,
we called for chaya, which Is Japanese
tea. Two little girls quickly respond
cd and placed before us tho usual re-
freshments which Japanese tea house
affords. Two little trays with tiny tea
pots, dainty cups holding hardly gill.
and little sauccrs OF swcetmeats made
Of rice and flour, were placed before us.
No chairs were offered us,so we stretch-
cd ourselves on the floor. Our walters.
without word. poured tho steaming
tea into the cups and offered 1t to US.
The Japanese use no sugar nor milk In
their tea, and drink only small guam
tity at time, slipping II slowly Their
tea Is very bitter, and has sickcning
greenish-yellow color.
With wry face, wo slipped the tea
and nibblcd the tough sweetmeats.
surely feeling. doubtless looking, very
foolish. 1t Is very embarrassing to sit
at banquet with pretty and gayly-
dressed girls, and not be able to speak
word. but such was our situation.
Our attempts at Japanese caused the
greatest morriment. the simple tittcring
reminding me OF the "threc little maids
from school, in "Mikado."
Some OF the girls in these Japanese
tea houses understand English very
well, indeed. when 1t Is spoken badly
and mixed with Japanese. ] say badly,
for it rs curious fact that on English
man or American in attempting to
mako himself understood to foreign
CIR, invariably uses the worst kind OF
English, probably because he desires to
be as brief as possible. Tea houses.
especially in Yokohama, are so fire.
quently visited By English-speaking
people, that not only the language but
the names OF many OF the visitors are
known to these attractive girls.